Windows as a tablet OS

[Dormouse]

Over the years I've switched between phone/PC and then. phone/PC/laptop. Tablets were added to the mix; I never used my iPads much, but did use my Samsung Note tablet a lot until it started playing up after a few years ,at the same time as I was transitioning to mostly using Windows tablet/laptops instead of desktops (one Surface book; one Toshiba convertible). To an extent that has worked: it is useful to use Windows programs on a tablet. But only when needs must. It doesn't work easily or elegantly, so I mostly use them as a workstation. Partly i think the OS doesn't lend itself well to tablet use, though it tries and neither are the apps optimised for tablet use. The Android versions of the same programs often work much better on tablets, though usually with restricted functionality. So back to increased Android tablet use. It's not a major change in my workflow just change in the hardware I spend most time with.

Partly my switch is about eyesight changes and monitors. I really really like big busy monitors, but the brightness overwhelms me now after a few hours even though I've tweaked all my settings and limited the programs I use to ones that suit me best. Phones and tablets are much easier. I can imagine myself ending up with Android tablets/phones and Linux PCs (with Windows and/or WINE installed). Windows updates are uniquely disruptive and I seem to lose my theme setting every other day.

[wraith808]

I use my Surface right along side my desktops, and it works pretty well, but I know what you mean about it being not as fit, even with the adjustments that they make.  I use it mostly for reading PDFs, browsing, and OneNote though, so it works for me.

[Dormouse]

Yes. I'd like to emphasise that I like my Surface, and it's a tribute to its capability that I've been using it as a workstation instead of my desktop (which I've just taken down for renewal/rebuilding). It works OK as a tablet, and I could probably make it do better if I used it like that more - which I suppose I might in the future. But, when I came to the realisation that productivity required me to use a tablet much more of the time to cut monitor exposure, my immediate thought wasn't to just use the Surface as a tablet. Partly to avoid the switching between workstation mode and tablet but mostly because I find that the Windows programs work better on desktop than they do on tablet. And with tablets falling out of fashion I'm not sure there will be any further adjustment in that direction.

It's just a not unexpected discovery that a multi-function device is unlikely to be best at any individual function.

[wraith808]

It's just a not unexpected discovery that a multi-function device is unlikely to be best at any individual function.

That's true, though I thought that the Book came closer.  I just have the Surface 4, as I didn't know if I wanted to put down that much money.

[ewemoa]

Tablets were added to the mix; I never used my iPads much, but did use my Samsung Note tablet a lot

This has been my experience too.  Stylus technology and software that utilizes it has improved sufficiently in some places -- am hoping this trend will continue.  The issue of how to carry a stylus without losing it doesn't seem to be well-addressed yet though IMO.

The specific Windows OS Tablet I've tried is a 12 inch Samsung Galaxy Book.

Partly my switch is about eyesight changes and monitors. I really really like big busy monitors, but the brightness overwhelms me now after a few hours

I don't typically last that long.  I've coped by using an e-ink reader for certain activities (unfortunately, this technology is really taking a long time to develop nicely), staying far enough away from displays (not easy for a tablet one is holding), reducing exposure, using a single display, keeping my code within about 80 columns, etc.

One thing I found that helped on the hardware end of things was Samsung's OLED displays.  This doesn't really help for external displays (too expensive / unavailable), but for tablets and phones, it seems to be less problematic on my eyes.

I learned about eye issues a fair bit from: https://ledstrain.org/ It appears people suffer for a variety of reasons and there doesn't appear to be a single practical "drop-in" solution, but there are many ideas there to learn from.

[Dormouse]

I thought that the Book came closer.

You're right of course. Hardwarewise the Book is excellent as both a laptop and tablet. It's just the software I don't find so smooth.

[Dormouse]

Tablets were added to the mix; I never used my iPads much, but did use my Samsung Note tablet a lot

This has been my experience too.  Stylus technology and software that utilizes it has improved sufficiently in some places -- am hoping this trend will continue.  The issue of how to carry a stylus without losing it doesn't seem to be well-addressed yet though IMO.

I think I've acquired a solution to that  :)
The Samsung tablet has a very shallow hollow for the stylus with a weak magnetic link - but it works as if it is rock solid with this case. Has to be attached right but that easy so long as you remember that any which way won't do.

Carrying a tablet around is something i find comfortable, reminds me of the days when filofaxes were endemic, and I use it for lots of things that it wouldn't be worth opening a laptop for.

[Dormouse]

I don't typically last that long.  I've coped by using an e-ink reader for certain activities (unfortunately, this technology is really taking a long time to develop nicely), staying far enough away from displays (not easy for a tablet one is holding), reducing exposure, using a single display, keeping my code within about 80 columns, etc.

One thing I found that helped on the hardware end of things was Samsung's OLED displays.  This doesn't really help for external displays (too expensive / unavailable), but for tablets and phones, it seems to be less problematic on my eyes.

I learned about eye issues a fair bit from: https://ledstrain.org/ It appears people suffer for a variety of reasons and there doesn't appear to be a single practical "drop-in" solution, but there are many ideas there to learn from.

You seem to have it much worse than me. I'm hoping mine stabilises or even improves.

I find phones and tablets much easier. I'd explained it to myself by looking at the smaller size, but also that holding it closer meant that I'd often use my other, reading, eye. (No binocular vision, one eye general purpose, the other has always specialised in reading). But, now that you mention it, I have been using Samsung tablets and phones - apart from my limited usage of the iPads (they were only required because an essential work program only runs on them).

I'll have to have a look at that website. I'd never come across it before.

[Dormouse]

And I have just discovered the Google Canary experimental setting to force dark mode on light web pages without reversing the colours in images 

[wraith808]

Tablets were added to the mix; I never used my iPads much, but did use my Samsung Note tablet a lot

This has been my experience too.  Stylus technology and software that utilizes it has improved sufficiently in some places -- am hoping this trend will continue.  The issue of how to carry a stylus without losing it doesn't seem to be well-addressed yet though IMO.

I think I've acquired a solution to that  :)
The Samsung tablet has a very shallow hollow for the stylus with a weak magnetic link - but it works as if it is rock solid with this case. Has to be attached right but that easy so long as you remember that any which way won't do.

Carrying a tablet around is something i find comfortable, reminds me of the days when filofaxes were endemic, and I use it for lots of things that it wouldn't be worth opening a laptop for.

The Surface pen is also magnetic so clips on.  And the case I have has a well for the pen.

[Dormouse]

The Surface pen has much stronger magnetism than the Samsung, so I can see a well working on its own. The Samsung case has a well but needs the flap to protect it from being bumped out.

Having a Book, I never really looked at cases for the tablet alone. Most of those I saw for the Surface Pro seemed designed for the keyboard too. And that's quite a different use concept. I never found the clip very useful.

[wraith808]

The one that I have is used with or without the keyboard.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B019TTJHCO/

[Dormouse]

Doesn't the pen ever get dislodged when you carry it in a bag with other things? My old Samsung tablet had the pen held at the side using elastic.  That wasn't effective,  but I can see that your case would be much better especially with strong magnetism. With that and the Surface,  I ended up carrying them separately.

[wraith808]

Doesn't the pen ever get dislodged when you carry it in a bag with other things? My old Samsung tablet had the pen held at the side using elastic.  That wasn't effective,  but I can see that your case would be much better especially with strong magnetism. With that and the Surface,  I ended up carrying them separately.

I haven't had that problem with that case.  When I'm walking around with no case, since it's just magnetism, if I put it into a bag then it might happen.  But I mostly keep the case with that well on it, and it clips into it.

[Dormouse]

Hardwarewise the Book is excellent

Not quite so sure about that now. The right side of the display has unglued itself. No misuse, just been used as part of a workstation set up for a year or two. With extra fan cooling from below, so no overheating either.

Microsoft repair costs mean it would be easier to replace. But neither option is sensible.
See little advantage in a computer repair shop locally.
Which leaves me contemplating a hot hair dryer or double sided tape.

Everything else still works perfectly well. But I obviously need to get a desktop up and running again. My Toshiba laptop isn't powerful enough to run everything I'd want at a reasonable speed.

[ewemoa]

I'll have to have a look at that website. I'd never come across it before.

I recently tried a 28 inch screen.  Unfortunately, I experienced pain and odd sensations.

One of the stats I've started to pay attention to is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candela_per_square_metre

The 28 inch screen I tried had a rating of 350 cd / m^2.  Multiply this with its area (0.258 m^2) and one gets something like 90.3 cd.

The screen I'm used to by contrast is 220 cd/m^2 * 0.153 m^2, giving a result of 33.7 cd.

It looks like it's easier to find things that are in the low 200s these days.

Keeping distance from the screen seems to help, but there is only so much one can do and what's the point in a large screen that's too far away